Sweet Smell of Success

Robert, who farms at Heydour Lodge Farm, Grantham, on approximately 1000 acres, has mixed soil types ranging from a limestone brash to heavy clay. His rotation consists of OSR, Wheat, Sugar Beet, Spring Beans and Set-aside. For a number of years now, Robert has used Biosolids to reduce growing costs.

Whilst biosolids are phosphate rich, it also contains significant amounts of nitrogen. Robert says “ we are not only benefiting from the nitrogen, but as with any organic fertiliser, biosolids can help prevent drought in the summer growing season, all increasing the chance of a yield increase”. Robert also stated that “Sugar beet fields that had an application of biosolids prior to drilling, showed a significant yield increase of at least 5% in comparison to fields that did not have an application”, “there have been yield increases of over 4 tonnes per hectare, which in real terms means you have scope to reduce your beet acreage to meet quota, and greater crop profitability” furthermore Robert said “with recent events in Brussels seeing a 36% price reduction, a yield increase seems the only feasible way of continuing to grow sugar beet.”